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PART Recent Trends and Developments in Government Policies in Education, Science and Culture

In order to promote the international exchange of educators, the Ministry every year sends abroad approximately 5,000 elementary and secondary school teachers for a study tour as an integral part of their in-service training. In addition, it sends abroad a number of university teachers for research purposes, invites a number of foreign teachers as teachers at national universities, and supports the programs of the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science for international scientific exchange. A number of "social education" leaders are also sent abroad for a study tour.

With regard to youth exchange, the Government administers the Youth Invitation Program, the Ship for World Youth, and the Friendship Program for the 21st Century and other programs. Local governments and non-governmental organizations also undertake various programs for; youth exchange, School tours abroad are meaningful activities in providing students with opportunities for making contact with foreign people and foreign cultures and for increasing their international understanding. It is necessary, however, to make all possible efforts to ensure the students' safety during their tour abroad. In view of the importance of student exchange at the secondary school level, the Ministry supports foreign governments' programs for inviting Japanese upper secondary school students. As well as various programs undertaken by Japanese non-profit organizations for the exchange of secondary school students, In February 1988, under partial amendments to the Enforcement Regulations of the School Education Law, a statutory system of study abroad for upper secondary school students was created under which students' study at a foreign secondary school can be recognized as equivalent to their study at a Japanese upper secondary school. In this connection, in June 1990 a Consultative Committee on Study Abroad at the Upper Secondary School Level published a report, in which the Committee offered a variety of recommendations regarding study abroad at this level.

International cultural exchange will contribute to the cultural development of Japan on one hand. On the other hand, there is a growing demand that Japan more actively contribute to the international community through cultural exchange activities. It is necessary for Japan to be active in promoting international cultural exchanges. The Agency for Cultural Affairs undertakes various services regarding international cultural exchange, such as cooperation with other organizations in organizing overseas exhibitions of Japanese works of fine arts, as well as overseas performances of Japanese theatrical and musical works; the administration of various exchanges of the performing arts; cooperation with other countries in the restoration of valuable cultural properties in these countries; the invitation of foreign artists and experts in cultural heritage and the sending of Japanese artists and experts in cultural properties. Activities for international exchange in sports have been undertaken more actively year by year. Today a great many people, including eminent athletes and ordinary citizens, participate in these activities. The Ministry provides local governments with subsidies for their programs for international sports meetings whereby Japanese community people and people from Asian countries have an opportunity to increase mutual understanding and friendship. The Ministry every year sends abroad a number of community sports leaders for a study tour. It also gives subsidies to the Japan Amateur Snorts Association and the Japanese Olympic Committee for their programs for sending abroad a number of sports leaders. International exchange programs of children's sports clubs are also subsidized.

The Ministry has also been carrying out international cooperation programs through UNESCO, OECD and other international organizations. UNESCO is a specialized United Nations agency aimed at the promotion of international cooperation in the fields of education, science and culture. In view of the importance of UNESCO's basic principles and its multilateral cooperation programs, the Government of Japan has been actively cooperation with UNESCO and participating in its multilateral programs. The Government has also been participating in the various educational and scientific programs undertaken by OECD. Further, it has been actively promoting a variety of programs for scientific exchange and for technical cooperation with developing countries.